Water closet construction

ABSTRACT

A toilet or water closet construction which includes a bowl, a seat, a seat lid and a hinge structure which pivotally connects the seat or seat lid or both to the bowl. The hinge structure includes a portion secured to the bowl and at least one leg which is pivotally connected to the portion secured to the bowl, and which is also connected to the seat and lid. The seat is exposed along its rear edge portion to receive without interference by the hinge structure, the rear of a flexible cover which covers at least the upper surface of the seat. In like manner, the lid may be exposed along its rear edge portion to receive without interference from the hinge structure, the rear edge portion of a flexible cover which covers the upper surface of the seat lid.

Unite States Warnberg [54] WATER CLOSET CONSTRUCTION 221 Filed: June24,1970

21 Appl.No.: 49,435

[52] US. Cl ..4/236,4/242 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47k 13/12 [58] Field ofSearch ..4/236, 240, 242, 245, 246

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 622,383 4/1899 OBrien..4/241 2,026,024 12/1935 Dullere..... .4/236 2,611,136 9/1952 Diamond.4/242 2,994,887 8/1961 Thornton..... .4/242 2,608,694 9/1952 McCamy.4/242 2,167,587 7/1939 Rowe .4/242 1,282,588 10/1918 Keene 16/1891,710,620 4/1929 Hawkins ...4/242 2,032,257 2/1936 Carmichael ..4/236Apr. 4, 1972 3,118,149 l/1964 Tomasetti ..4/242 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 525,797 6/1956 Canada ..4/242 Primary Examiner-Samuel B.Rothberg Assistant Examiner-Donald B. Massenberg Att0rneyDunlap, Laney,Hessin & Dougherty 5 7] ABSTRACT A toilet or water closet constructionwhich includes a bowl, a seat, a seat lid and a hinge structure whichpivotally connects the seat or seat lid or both to the bowl. The hingestructure includes a portion secured to the bowl and at least one legwhich is pivotally connected to the portion secured to the bowl, andwhich is also connected to the seat and lid. The seat is exposed alongits rear edge portion to receive without interference by the hingestructure, the rear of a flexible cover which covers at least the uppersurface of the seat. In like manner, the lid may be exposed along itsrear edge portion to receive without in terference from the hingestructure, the rear edge portion of a flexible cover which covers theupper surface of the seat lid.

9 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures WATER CLOSET CONSTRUCTION FIELD OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to cover structures for water closets,and particularly relates to toilet seats and lids, and to aesthetic andcushioning flexible materials which cover such seats and lids.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART It has been heretofore proposed toprovide aesthetic and useful fabric covers for the seats and lids ofwater closets so as to improve the overall decor of the bathroom, andthe comfort of using the water closets. Patents which are directed tostructures of this type are Thornton, US. Pat. No. 2,994,887 andWarnberg, US. Pat. No. 3,102,276, both assigned to the assignee of thepresent invention.

A problem which has been encountered in securing some types of fabriccovers to toilet seats and lids has been that which has resulted fromthe manner in which the hinges utilized for securing these structures tothe bowl of the toilet are secured to the seat and the lid. Often, thehinges are secured to the seat, or to the lid, or to both, is suchposition that it is not possible to extend the edge of the fabric coverused on the seat or lid down over the back edge of the seat or lid towhich it is secured. The hinge and back edge of the seat or lid aretherefore exposed and are unsightly. Moreover, by reason of theinability to extend the rear of the fabric cover down beneath the rearedge of the seat or lid on which it is placed, it is not possible tostretch the cover to a smooth, wrinkle-free, aesthetic configuration.Also, the fabric cover can more easily be inadvertently or accidentallydetached from the seat or lid which carries it as a result of theinability to extend its edge beneath the rigid supporting elementcompletely around the periphery thereof. Finally, since toilet seats andlids are made and sold in over one hundred different sizes and shapes,the ability to selectively extend a ortion of the cover over aperipheral edge of the seat or lid permits complete covering of agreater variety of sizes and shapes of lids and seats using but a singlesize and shape of cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention is animproved water closet structure in which the seat and/or lid areconstructed and attached to the bowl by a hinge structure in such a waythat the peripheral edge of the cover which is provided for the seat orthe lid can be extended down over at least a portion of the peripheraledge of the seat and lid at all sides thereof. This provides a moreaesthetic assembly, and provides for better retention of fabric coversin their covering positions.

Broadly described, the present invention comprises a toilet bowl whichhas pivotally connected thereto by means of a hinge structure, at leasta toilet seat, and preferably a lid. The hinge structure includes astationary portion secured to the bowl, and at least one leg which ispivotally attached to the stationary portion. One or more of the legsare secured to the seat, either to the under side thereof, or in agrooved portion at the back edge of the seat. A flexible cover ismounted on the upper surface of the seat, and its peripheral edgeextends down along the peripheral edge ofthe entire seat. The manner inwhich a portion of the hinge is attached to the seat allows the flexiblecover to be placed on the seat in this manner without interference fromthe hinge structure.

Where a lid is included in the assembly, one or more of the hinge legsare secured either to the under side thereof, or in a grooved portion inthe back edge thereof. A flexible lid cover is mounted on the uppersurface of the lid, and its peripheral edge extends down along theperipheral edge of the entire lid. Thus, also in this case, the hingestructure does not interfere with the complete covering which isdesired. The flexible covers may, if desired, also be made to cover thebottom as well as the top surface of the seat and lid.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the seat has a transversegroove extending across its vertical back edge and detachably receivingone or a pair of hinge legs therein. The groove is of a size that, inaddition to the leg of the hinge, it will accommodate the rear edge oredges of the fabric cover. The same construction preferablycharacterizes the lid, its cover and the portion of the hinge structureattached thereto. Another feature employed in a preferred embodiment ofthe invention is the inclusion of a counterbalanced override spring inthe hinge construction so that the seat or lid will be biased to anupright position by the spring after it has been pivoted upwardlymanually to a limited extent.

In another embodiment, retention of the flexible cover on the seat orlid is enhanced by providing ears or protuberances thereon.

An object of the invention is to provide an aesthetic water closetconstruction in which a flexible cover which covers the seat of thestructure is stretched taut, and covers all peripheral edges of theseat.

A further object of the invention is to provide a water closet structurewhich, by its novel construction, permits a fixed size flexible cover tobe utilized for covering toilet seats and/or lids of a variety of sizesand shapes.

An additional object of the invention to provide a hinge and seatstructure for a water closet which facilitates better retention on theseat of a flexible cover which is stretched tautly across at least theupper surface thereof.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a water closetconstruction in which either the seat or lid, or both, are positivelyretained in an upright position by the resilient bias of a spring.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description, and from the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of one form ofwater closet constructed in accordance with the present invention andshowing fabric covers for the seat and lid in position.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along section line 22 of the watercloset illustration of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along section line 33 of the watercloset illustration of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of another form of water closet constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along sectional line 55 of the watercloset illustration of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of yet another form of water closet constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. Sis a sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of yet another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view illustrating a modified hinge structureuseful in the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referringto the drawing, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a water closet constructionwhich includes a bowl 10 having pivotally connected thereto, a seat 12and a lid 14. The seat 12 and lid 14 are secured to the bowl by a hingestructure designated generally by reference numeral 16. In theillustrated embodiment, the hinge structure 16 includes at least a pairof vertical supporting posts 18 which carry journals receiving anelongated pivot pin or shaft 20. The pivot pin or shaft 20 extendshorizontally and has pivotally mounted on the outer ends thereof, a pairof sleeves 22 which are secured to legs 24. The legs 24 of the hingestructure 16 extend forwardly relative to the toilet bowl and projectinto a transverse slot 26 provided in the back edge of the toilet seat12 and into slots or bores 28 formed in the seat 12. In the illustratedembodiment, the hinge legs 24 are relatively flat and are apertured toreceive a retaining screw 30 extended through the legs from the lowerside of the seat 12 in the manner best illustrated in FIG. 2. It will beseen from this construction that the seat 12 may be detached from thelegs 24 of the hinge structure 16 by removing the screws 30 and slidingthe seat off the legs. Other forms of attachment can also be used.

Referring more specifically to the groove 26 which is formedtransversely across the back side or edge of the seat 12, it will benoted that this groove is substantially larger in its vertical widthdimension than is the thickness of each of the hinge legs 24 so that aspace exits on opposite sides of the hinge legs. This space functions toaccommodate the free rear edge of a flexible cover placed on the seat 12in a manner hereinafter described.

The hinge structure 16 further includes a second pair of substantiallyparallel legs 32 which are secured to sleeves 34 pivotally mounted onthe rod or pivot pin 20. The legs 32 extend into and through atransverse slot or groove 36 formed along the rear edge of the lid 14into slots or bores 38 extending inwardly in the lid from the back edgethereof. The bores 38 are shaped to receive the relatively flat legs 32,and these legs are apertured to receive retaining screws 40 which areextended therethrough for the purpose of securing the lid 14 to the legs32. It will be noted that the manner in which the lid 14 is secured tothe legs 32 is similar to the manner in which the legs 24 are secured tothe seat 12. It will further be noted that the groove 36 issubstantially larger in its transverse width dimension than are the legs32 so as to provide a space accommodating the free edges of a flexiblecover placed on the lid 14 as hereinafter described.

It will be noted in referring to FIG. 1 that the toilet seat 12 is ofthe type which is sometimes referred to as a split seat construction.Thus, the seat 12 has two legs or side portions which do not meet at theforward end of the seat, but rather are separated at this point by atransverse space. With this seat construction, a sleeve type cover offlexible material may be employed, and such cover is illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2 and designated by reference numeral 50. Various types ofmaterials may be employed for constructing the cover 50, butstretch-type fabrics of the type described in my US Pat. No. 3,102,276and in Thornton, US. Pat. No. 2,994,887 are preferred. The cover 50includes a pair of legs conforming to the legs or side portions of theseat 12, preferably, but not necessarily, having the ends of the legsclosed. The portion of the cover 50 which is located at the back of theseat 12 when the cover is mounted on the seat is open so that in placingthe cover on the seat, the open back end of the cover is first forcedover the forward ends of the two legs of the seat and then stretchedlaterally so as to pass the widest portion of the seat. It will beperceived that the cover must necessarily have some elasticity in orderto be placed in position on the seat 12, and yet resiliently shrink to ataut condition when it has reached the position depicted in FIG. 1.

When the cover 50 has been placed on the seat 12 in the positiondepicted in FIGS. I and 2, the free edge portions of the cover are thenforced into the transverse groove 26 formed across the back edge of theseat 12 so that these free edges, designated by reference numerals 50aand 50b, occupy the positions best illustrated in FIG. 2.

In referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be perceived that with the seat12 in the position in which it is normally viewed, the rear edge of theseat is not exposed, but rather, the cover 50 extends to, and completelycovers, the rear edge of this seat. This is made possible by thegrooving of the rear edge of the seat which permits the free edges ofthe cover to be tucked into the groove. This method of securement of thecover also makes for a firmer adherence of the cover to the seat, andpermits it to be stretched and maintained taut on the seat. It will beperceived in referring to FIG. 2 that the same neat and aestheticappearance characterizes the lower panel of the cover 50 in that thisportion of the cover covers the entire exposed lower surface of the seat12, including the rear edge thereof. The lower panel of the cover may beapertured to accommodate the small bumper elements carried on the lowerside of many types of toilet seats.

The same construction characterizes the lid 14, in combination with acover 56, which is stretched over the lid, and which has its edgesadjacent an opening at the rear thereof tucked into the groove 36 formedin the back edge of the lid. Again, there are no exposed portions of thelid 14, and the cover 56 is stretched tautly on the lid so as to providea neat and aesthetic appearance. The bumper-element receiving aperturesdescribed above may also be provided in the lower panel of the lid cover56.

A modified embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4-5. Inthe water closet construction here shown, there is included a toiletbowl 58, a seat 60, a hinge structure, designated generally by referencenumeral 62, and a lid 64. The seat 60 is circular in configuration,rather than a split seat construction of the type shown in FIGS. 1-3.Also, the hinge structure 62 differs from that shown in FIGS. 1-3 inthat the legs 68 of the hinge structure which are connected to the seat60 are configured to extend beneath the seat 60, and to be secured tothe bottom surface thereof by the use of screw 70 or other suitablemeans. It will be noted that the seat 60 in this embodiment of theinvention has a beveled or cut away rear side 69 or cover-retainingsurface which tapers downwardly and forwardly from the top side to thebottom side of the seat. This construction permits the free edge of acover made of a flexible material, and hereinafter described, to beextended over the rear edge of the seat to retain the cover in position.

The hinge structure 62 may further include another set of legs 72 whichproject in the opposite direction from the legs 68 and are secured byscrews 74 or other suitable means to the lower side or surface of thelid 64. The rear edge of the lid 64 is cut away or beveled similarly tothe rear edge of the seat 60, so that the rear side 75 extends inwardlyfrom the top side of the lid to the lower side thereof.

It will be apparent that a circular seat structure 60 of the type shownin FIGS. 4 and 5 will not accommodate the dual leg type flexible coverof the sort used on a split seat construction as shown in FIG. 1.Rather, a cover 76 which is also circular in configuration and which isof the type shown in the Wamberg and Thornton patents hereinbeforementioned must be used on this type of seat. Where this cover 76 isused, it is placed on the seat 60 by positioning a stiffening ring 77carried within or on the inner periphery of the cover beneath the seatadjacent the opening in the seat. The cover 76 of flexible material isthen extended across the upper surface of the seat 60. The outerperipheral edge of the cover 76 carries an elastic bank 79 which can beexpanded to place the cover over the seat, and which then contracts topull the outer peripheral edge of the flexible cover under the lowerside of the seat. A string or other flexible tying member can also beused to draw the outer peripheral edge of the cover 76 inwardly underthe seat 60.

A problem which has been encountered with this type of cover as it hasbeen used on water closed constructions previously in use is theinterference which the conventional hinge structure has afforded theextension of the rear edge of the cover over the rear edge of the seat.With the hinge structure 62 constructed as illustrated in FIG. 4 of thedrawings, and secured to the rear side of the seat 60, and also with thebeveled surface 69 provided on the rear side of the seat, the fabriccover 76 can be stretched completely across the upper surface of theseat, and the rear edge of the cover pressed over the rear edge of theseat. The elastic will then contract and draw the cover tautly to theposition depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5. Thus, no portion of the uppersurface of the seat is exposed, and the desired aesthetic appearance isattained.

In like manner, a flexible cover 78 may be stretched over the lid 64 ofthe water closet, and such cover may desirably be of the single paneltype (that is, one which covers only the upper side of the lid), ratherthan a sleeve type which covers both the upper and lower sides of thelid. This panel type of cover actually permits advantage to be taken ofthe beveled rear edge of the lid 64 to permit the entire upper surfaceof the lid to be covered, and no particular advantage in aesthetics isgained due to the particular hinge structure used in this embodiment ofthe invention when a sleeve type fabric cover is used for the lid,except that the lower side of the lid will, of course, be substantiallyentirely covered by such a construction.

Yet another type of water closet construction is depicted in FIGS. 68 ofthe drawings. Here, a split seat is illustrated, and is pivotallymounted on a toilet bowl 82. The seat 80 is secured to the bowl 82 bymeans of a hinge structure designated generally by reference numeral 84,and the hinge structure includes a portion which may be one or a pair oflegs 86, secured to the underside of the seat 80, and a pair of legs 88secured to the underside of a lid 90. Retention ofa flexible cover 92 onthe seat 80 is achieved in the embodiment of the invention illustratedin FIGS. 68 by means ofa pair of ears 94 and 96 which are formed at therear edge of the seat 80, and at the opposite side corners thereof.These ears 94 and 96 are, of course, disposed on opposite sides of thehinge structure 84, and thus permit the opposite corners of the freerear edge portion of the sleeve type flexible cover 92 to be pulled overthe ears in the manner best shown in FIG. 8. This serves to stretch thesleeve type cover 92 tautly on the seat and to retain the cover inposition. Moreover, by the inclusion of these ears 94 and 96, it ispossible to also pull the rear edge of the lower panel portion of theflexible cover taut and far rearwardly along the lower side of the seatso that little or none of the lower surface of the seat is exposed.

in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6-8, asleeve-type flexible cover 100 is also utilized on the lid of the watercloset, which lid carries ears at the rear outside corners of the lidsimilarly to the construction of the seat 80. The sleeve-type flexiblecover is thus pulled over the lid 90, and the rear edge portions of thiscover are hooked over, or passed under, the ears 102 and 104 to retainthe cover in position with a taut and aesthetic appearance.

Another embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10, andalthough only a seat 106 is shown attached to the bowl 108 by a hingestructure designated generally by reference numeral 110, it will beunderstood that a lid could also be provided, if desired, and would beattached to the hinge structure in a manner similar to the mode ofattachment of the seat. The hinge structure 110 includes a single leg114 in the form of a relatively broad plate which is stepped as shown at116 to offset the parallel planes in which are located (a) that partwhich is attached to the underside of the seat, and (b) that part whichis pivotally attached to a transverse mounting rod 118 supported by theposts 120 of the hinge structure. Surrounding the rod 118 on oppositesides of the hinge leg 114 are a pair of torsion springs 122. Thesesprings are selected for their elastic properties and are attached tothe side edges of the leg 114 so that they constitute counterbalancedoverride springs. As such, they function to cause the seat 106 toautomatically pivot upwardly to, or through, an upright position afterthe seat has been manually lifted a small distance above the toilet bowl108.

A cover 124 made of a soft flexible material material is placed on theseat 106 in the manner hereinbefore described, and the rear edge of thecover can be pulled down across the back edge of the seat. The offset orstep 116 allows the edge of the cover to be contracted beneath the loweredge of the seat for better retention, full coverage and wideradaptability of a single size cover to a variety of shapes and sizes ofseats.

The inclusion of the counterbalanced override spring in the describedstructure has a particular advantage where thick, bulky materials areused to make the seat cover, and a covered lid of the general typepreviously described is employed in conjunction with the covered seat.Where this has been done in past seat and lid constructions using aconventional hinge structure, it is often difficult to prevent the seatfrom falling down on the bowl after it has been raised due to the bulkof the material which separates the lid from the seat. The resilientbias exerted by the counterbalanced override spring prevents thisundesirable tendency.

Another structure which will produce the desired result of maintainingthe seat (or lid) in an upright position is the hinge arrangement shownin FIG. 11. Here an elongated rod 126 which is mounted betweensupporting posts (not shown) extends through a sleeve 128 mountedthereon for pivotation about the longitudinal axis of the rod. Thesleeve 128 is secured to a hinge leg 130 which may be similar, forexample, to the hinge leg shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, and is secured to atoilet seat or to a lid for a toilet seat in one of the wayshereinbefore described. The rod 126 has a recess 132 formed thereinwhich extends radially inwardly from the top of the rod. The recess 132carries a spring 134 which biases a ball 136 outwardly in the recess andagainst the inner surface of the sleeve 128. The sleever 128 has a camrecess 138 formed in the inside surface thereof for cooperation with theball 136 in a manner hereinafter described.

When a seat or lid attached to the hinge leg 130 is lifted manually fromthe horizontally extending position toward an upright position, the camrecess 138 moves around the shaft 126 toward the recess 132 in theshaft. The ball 136 ultimately begins to move toward the bottom of thecam recess 138 down the less steeply inclined side thereof under thebias of the spring 134. When the seat or lid is in the upright position,the ball is pressed into the deepest portion of the cam recess 138. Thespring 134 tends to maintain the structured elements in this position sothat the lid or seat remains upright until it is manually returned tothe horizontally extended position.

Although certain preferred embodiments of the present invention havebeen herein disclosed in order to enable those skilled in the art topractice the invention, it is to be understood that various changes andmodifications in the drawing may be effected without departure from thebasic principles of the invention. Modifications and changes of thistype are therefore deemed to be circumscribed by the spirit and scope ofthe invention except as the same may be necessarily excluded by theappended claims or reasonable equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A water closet construction comprising:

a bowl;

a seat having a rear edge portion having an upper side and a lower side,said seat being further characterized in having a pair of horizontallyspaced, rearwardly projecting ears at opposite sides of the rear edgethereof and projecting beyond the central portion of said rear edge;

a hinge structure pivotally mounting the seat on the upper side of thebowl, said hinge structure having a first portion secured to the bowl,and a second portion secured to the seat at a position to expose alongthe rear edge portion of said seat, a cover-retaining surfaceconstituted by said horizontally spaced ears; and

a flexible cover on at least the upper side of said seat and having afree edge projecting over, and engaged by, the cover-retaining surfaceconstituted by said horizontally spaced, rearwardly projecting cars atthe opposite sides of the rear edge of said seat.

2. A water closet construction comprising:

a bowl;

a seat having a rear edge portion and having an upper side and a lowerside;

a hinge structure pivotally mounting the seat on the upper side of thebowl, said hinge structure having a first portion secured to the bowl,and a second portion secured to the seat in a position to expose acover-retaining surface along the rear edge portion of the seat; and

a flexible cover constituting a sleeve having an upper panel contactingand covering the upper side of the seat, and a lower panel integrallyformed with the upper panel contacting and covering the lower side ofthe seat, said flexible cover having a free edge projecting over, andengaged by, said cover-retaining surface along the rear edge portion ofthe seat.

3. A water closet construction comprising:

a bowl;

a seat having a rear edge portion and having an upper side and a lowerside, said seat having a transversely extending groove formed in therear edge portion thereof between the upper and lower sides of the seat;

a hinge structure pivotally mounting the seat on the upper side of thebowl, said hinge structure having a first portion secured to the bowl,and at least two legs secured to said seat at horizontally spaced pointsspaced downwardly from the upper side of the seat along the rear edgeportion of said seat, and defining a cover-retaining portion along therear edge portion of the seat between said horizontally spaced pointsand the upper side of the seat, said hinge legs projecting into saidgroove; and

a flexible cover on at least the upper side of said seat and having afree edge projecting over, and engaged by, said cover-retaining surfacealong the rear edge portion of said seat and into said groove.

4. A water closet construction comprising:

a bowl;

a seat having a rear edge portion and having an upper side and a lowerside;

a hinge structure pivotally mounting the seat on the upper side of thebowl and having a first portion secured to the bowl and at least twolegs secured to said seat at horizontally spaced points spaceddownwardly from said upper side of the seat along the rear edge portionof the seat, said legs exposing a cover-retaining surface along the rearedge portion of said seat positioned between said horizontally spacedpoints and the upper side of the seat, said cover-retaining surfacetapering upwardly and rearwardly from said horizontally spaced pointstoward the upper side of said seat; and flexible cover on at least theupper side of said seat and having a free edge portion projecting over,and engaged by, said cover-retaining surface along the rear edge portionof the seat, and having said free edge portion of said flexible coverdisposed adjacent said hinge legs at said horizontally spaced points,

. A water closet construction comprising:

a bowl;

a seat having a rear edge portion and having an upper side and a lowerside;

a hinge structure pivotally mounting the seat on the upper side of thebowl, said hinge structure having a first portion secured to the bowl,and a second portion secured to the seat at a position to expose acover-retaining surface along the rear edge portion of the seat, saidsecond portion including a single plate having a step therein separatingtwo plate portions lying in offset parallel planes, one

of said plate portions being connected to said first portion of thehinge structure, and the other of said plate portions being secured tothe lower side of said seat at a location spaced from the rear edgeportion of said seat; and

a flexible cover on at least the upper side of said seat and having afree edge projecting over, and engaged by, said cover-retaining surfacealong the rear edge portion of the seat.

6. A water closet construction comprising:

a bowl;

a seat having a rear edge portion and having an upper side and a lowerside, said seat having a cover-retaining surface along the rear edgeportion of the seat, and having a groove recessed across the rear edgeportion of said seat and including said cover-retaining surface as aportion of said groove;

a hinge structure pivotally mounting the seat on the upper side of thebowl, said hinge structure having a first portion secured to th e bowl,and a second portion secured to the seat at a position to expose saidcover-retain1ng surface along the rear edge portion of the seat; and

a flexible cover on at least the upper side of said seat and having afree edge projecting over, and engaged by, said cover-retaining surfacealong the rear edge portion of the seat.

7. A water closet construction comprising:

a bowl;

a seat having a rear edge portion, an upper side, and a lower side;

a hinge structure pivotally mounting the seat on the upper side of thebowl, said hinge structure having a first portion secured to the bowl, asecond portion secured to the seat in a position to expose acover-retaining surface along the rear edge portion of the seat, and athird portion pivotally movable about a horizontal axis;

a lid secured to said third portion of the hinge structure and pivotaltherewith about said horizontal axis, said lid hav ing a rear edgeportion defining a cover-retaining surface, and said rear edge portionhaving a groove recessed therein and formed in part by saidcover-retaining surface; and

a flexible cover on at least the upper side of said seat and having afree edge projecting over, and engaged by, said cover-retaining surfacealong the rear edge portion of the seat.

8. A water closet as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexible covercompletely covers the upper side of said seat and wherein said free edgeis hooked over said ears.

9. A water closet as defined in claim 3 wherein said flexible coverincludes an upper panel carrying said free edge portion, and a lowerpanel contacting and covering the lower side of said seat and having afree edge portion projecting into said groove.

1. A water closet construction comprising: a bowl; a seat having a rearedge portion having an upper side and a lower side, said seat beingfurther characterized in having a pair of horizontally spaced,rearwardly projecting ears at opposite sides of the rear edge thereofand projecting beyond the central portion of said rear edge; a hingestructure pivotally mounting the seat on the upper side of the bowl,said hinge structure having a first portion secured to the bowl, and asecond portion secured to the seat at a position to expose along therear edge portion of said seat, a cover-retaining surface constituted bysaid horizontally spaced ears; and a flexible cover on at least theupper side of said seat and having a free edge projecting over, andengaged by, the coverretaining surface constituted by said horizontallyspaced, rearwardly projecting ears at the opposite sides of the rearedge of said seat.
 2. A water closet construction comprising: a bowl; aseat having a rear edge portion and having an upper side and a lowerside; a hinge structure pivotally mounting the seat on the upper side ofthe bowl, said hinge structure having a first portion secured to thebowl, and a second portion secured to the seat in a position to expose acover-retaining surface along the rear edge portion of the seat; and aflexible cover constituting a sleeve having an upper panel contactingand covering the upper side of the seat, and a lower panel integrallyformed with the upper panel contacting and covering the lower side ofthe seat, said flexible cover having a free edge projecting over, andengaged by, said cover-retaining surface along the rear edge portion ofthe seat.
 3. A water closet construction comprising: a bowl; a seathaving a rear edge portion and having an upper side and a lower side,said seat having a transversely extending groove formed in the rear edgeportion thereof between the upper and lower sides of the seat; a hingestructure pivotally mounting the seat on the upper side of the bowl,said hinge structure having a first portion secured to the bowl, and atleast two legs secured to said seat at horizontally spaced points spaceddownwardly from the upper side of the seat along the rear edge portionof said seat, and defining a cover-retaining portion along the rear edgeportion of the seat between said horizontally spaced points and theupper side of the seat, said hinge legs projecting into said groove; anda flexible cover on at least the upper side of said seat and having afree edge projecting over, and engaged by, said cover-retaining surfacealong the rear edge portion of said seat and into said groove.
 4. Awater closet construction comprising: a bowl; a seat having a rear edgeportion and having an upper side and a lower side; a hinge structurepivotally mounting the seat on the upper side of the bowl and having afirst portion secured to the bowl and at leAst two legs secured to saidseat at horizontally spaced points spaced downwardly from said upperside of the seat along the rear edge portion of the seat, said legsexposing a cover-retaining surface along the rear edge portion of saidseat positioned between said horizontally spaced points and the upperside of the seat, said cover-retaining surface tapering upwardly andrearwardly from said horizontally spaced points toward the upper side ofsaid seat; and a flexible cover on at least the upper side of said seatand having a free edge portion projecting over, and engaged by, saidcover-retaining surface along the rear edge portion of the seat, andhaving said free edge portion of said flexible cover disposed adjacentsaid hinge legs at said horizontally spaced points.
 5. A water closetconstruction comprising: a bowl; a seat having a rear edge portion andhaving an upper side and a lower side; a hinge structure pivotallymounting the seat on the upper side of the bowl, said hinge structurehaving a first portion secured to the bowl, and a second portion securedto the seat at a position to expose a cover-retaining surface along therear edge portion of the seat, said second portion including a singleplate having a step therein separating two plate portions lying inoffset parallel planes, one of said plate portions being connected tosaid first portion of the hinge structure, and the other of said plateportions being secured to the lower side of said seat at a locationspaced from the rear edge portion of said seat; and a flexible cover onat least the upper side of said seat and having a free edge projectingover, and engaged by, said cover-retaining surface along the rear edgeportion of the seat.
 6. A water closet construction comprising: a bowl;a seat having a rear edge portion and having an upper side and a lowerside, said seat having a cover-retaining surface along the rear edgeportion of the seat, and having a groove recessed across the rear edgeportion of said seat and including said cover-retaining surface as aportion of said groove; a hinge structure pivotally mounting the seat onthe upper side of the bowl, said hinge structure having a first portionsecured to the bowl, and a second portion secured to the seat at aposition to expose said cover-retaining surface along the rear edgeportion of the seat; and a flexible cover on at least the upper side ofsaid seat and having a free edge projecting over, and engaged by, saidcover-retaining surface along the rear edge portion of the seat.
 7. Awater closet construction comprising: a bowl; a seat having a rear edgeportion, an upper side, and a lower side; a hinge structure pivotallymounting the seat on the upper side of the bowl, said hinge structurehaving a first portion secured to the bowl, a second portion secured tothe seat in a position to expose a cover-retaining surface along therear edge portion of the seat, and a third portion pivotally movableabout a horizontal axis; a lid secured to said third portion of thehinge structure and pivotal therewith about said horizontal axis, saidlid having a rear edge portion defining a cover-retaining surface, andsaid rear edge portion having a groove recessed therein and formed inpart by said cover-retaining surface; and a flexible cover on at leastthe upper side of said seat and having a free edge projecting over, andengaged by, said cover-retaining surface along the rear edge portion ofthe seat.
 8. A water closet as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexiblecover completely covers the upper side of said seat and wherein saidfree edge is hooked over said ears.
 9. A water closet as defined inclaim 3 wherein said flexible cover includes an upper panel carryingsaid free edge portion, and a lower panel contacting and covering thelower side of said seat and having a free edge portion projecting intosaid groove.